9. Is he really afraid of dark ?

I waited a few minutes to see if Nate comes out of the bathroom. But there was no sign he was going to come out anytime soon. My clothes were inside the bathroom. So I walked to the door and knocked on it.

“Nate, come out. They all left. You can pack your things and leave now,” I said. I didn't get any reply. But then I heard a faint sob and my heart twitched inside my chest. He is badly hurt. Maybe I should let him cry now.

I walked back to my suitcase and took another pair of shirt and shorts, quickly getting dressed in them. After that, I started unpacking my stuff.

It was almost 8 Pm when I finished arranging everything and made my bed. Nate has still not come out of the bathroom. I guess he should come out by now. That's enough time now. Maybe he isn't coming out because he is afraid I would do something to him. Or what if he did some not so funny business inside there? If something happens to him, I would be the one responsible.

I quickly walked to the door and knocked on it. “Hey Nate, What are you doing inside there?” There was no reply and I was feeling a bit nervous. “You know, you can come outside. I won't beat you,”

Again there was no reply and I literally started panicking. “Nate, are you sleeping? you are there right?” I asked knocking again. Then I heard a faint groan and I left a relieved sigh.

“Come out dude. What are you doing there? It's late. Don't you want to go to your new room? Ahmm..I arranged my things and prepared my bed myself. You don't need to do that. You now come outside. I promise I won't do anything to you. I may even walk you to your new room,” Still there was no replay and I was starting to feel a bit annoyed. Why does he have to stay inside there even after I said I won't do anything?

“I'm not c..coming out. I'm g..going to c..complaint to the p..principal,” Nate then said in a husky voice from inside.

“Then you are so dead, Nate,” I said. “Don't do foolish things. You know Tony's uncle is the dean of this school,” I didn't simply say it for fun. That's true and Tony is literally the apple of his eyes, no matter whatever he does. Nate is gonna be in real trouble if he does something like he said. Nothing came from him in replay. Anyway I was relieved that he was alright.

“Hmm..so, do you have any plan to come out?” I then asked. He kept silent. “Okay then, sleep inside the bathroom. I will switch off the lights for you. Sleep peacefully,” I said annoyed.

“N..no..no..d.don't,” Nate cried. I already switched off the light. He didn't scream. But some sounds like sobs, hiccups or panting noises started coming from the inside after a moment.

“Haha..are you trying to scare me?” 

I chuckled. I got no reply but loud pants and sobs came instead. I guess he is being so childish right now. He doesn't need to act like my six year old sister. I waited some time for him to finally stop his little acting. But it didn't stop. I was now starting to feel nervous. 'Is he really afraid of dark?', I quickly switched on the light. But the pantings still didn't stop.

“Hey..Hey..Nate, open the door. What happened? Are you afraid of the dark? Please open the door. Hey don't panic, just open the door,” the panting continued making me panic inside. “Nate..please. I won't do anything to you....please just open the door,”

He was now panting violently. I didn't wait one more second. I hit the door with all my strength and it broke open. I was utterly shocked to see a hyperventilating Nate, curled into a ball in a corner of the bathroom hugging his knees to his chest. Tears are flowing down his cheeks and his glassy blue eyes revealed how panicked he was.

I ran to him and fell on my knees in front of him. “Hey..Nate.. don't panic. It's okay. Shh..it's okay..calm down,” Nate still didn't stop panting and shivering that I hugged him in an attempt to calm him down. 

“A..Alex...Alex,” he panted out. I could hear his heart thudding fast at a vigorous rate. He shivered uncontrollably at my touch. Me hugging him didn't seem to calm him, so I immediately pulled away

I was panicking and sweating profusely. I didn't know what to do to calm the boy. At last, I picked him up from the floor and quickly made my way to the bed I just made, while he squirmed in my arms not able to breathe.

I gently placed him on the bed, supporting his back on the headboard. He looked nauseous and dizzy and he tried to cry out loud. “Hey..Nate..please don't panic. Look, we are here. You are all good and safe. I won't do anything. Please Nate, breathe in and breathe out..please do it. Nate..c'mon,” I encouraged him.

Nate started following my instructions. He tried to take a shallow breathe and I encouraged him and breathed along with him maintaining eye contact. “Nate..yes..! like that. You are doing good....take a few more deep breathes,”

Nate continued to breathe along with me as tears left his eyes freely. I felt very bad for what I did to him. I cupped his face and continued to encourage him to breathe. “Nate Calm down, okay?”He nodded and ruggedly breathed in and out along with me. I felt his breathing slowly coming back to normal.

It took almost five minutes for him to calm down and bring back his heartbeat and breathing to normal. All the while I encouraged him and breathed along with him.